The dinosaurs probably have a new record holder in terms of neck length – at least for now. This is the conclusion reached by researchers led by Andrew Moore of Stony Brook University in New York, as the British news agency PA reported.

"With a length of 15 meters, it looks like Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum is the record holder - at least until something longer is discovered," the paleontologist is quoted as saying. This corresponds to the length of about six giraffe necks.

Fossil remains discovered as early as 1987

The dinosaur species lived more than 160 million years ago in what is now East Asia and other parts of the world. Fossil remains of the animals had already been discovered in China in 1987. Although only a small number of bones were found, the researchers were able to reconstruct the size and appearance of Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum using complete skeletons of closely related dinosaurs. The extremely long neck accounted for about half of the total length of the animals. Her skull was very small in relation to the body.

Using computed tomography, the scientists found that the giants, like many birds, had hollow vertebrae. The animals also had neck ribs about four meters long, which provided stability - but also made the neck rather immobile. According to researchers, the dinosaurs could probably not lift it up like giraffes.

The new findings on the Dino have been published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.